SAT写作素材大全
第一章,美国概况
Chapter1AmericanHistory(I)(1600-1900)1.DiscoveryoftheNewWorld*The―firstAmericans‖:Indians
*ChristopherColumbus:AnItaliannigatorsupportedbySpanishQueenledhientosailacrossthevastoceanin1492andreachedsomeallislandsinthenowWestIndies.HethoughthehadreachedAisaanddidn'tknowhehaddiscoveredaNewContinent.(哥伦布是个粗心大意的家伙[意大利人],本来要去西藏[西班牙赞助],却在西印度群岛上,看到一座寺庙就饿[1492]了,不想走了.[哥伦布的老家和赞助商要记清])
*AmerigoVespucci:ThenigatorwhoprovedthatthelandwasnoIndia,butanewcontinent.Therefore,thelandwasnamedAmericaafterhim.
2.TheColonialPeriod
*ThefirstEnglishcolonyatJamestown,Virginia(1607)[6形状是大象的鼻子,这么记:一头大象用鼻子(16)吹泡泡(0),泡泡飘得很高,挂满了整面旗帜(7),在Jamestown的上空迎风飘扬,猎猎作响.]
*Theoriginal13colonies:alongtheeastcoastofNorthAmerica:Virginia,Maine,NewHampshire,Massachusetts,Connecticut,NewYork,RhodeIsland,Maryland,NorthCarolina,SouthCarolina,NewJersey,PennsylvaniaandGeia.(13:雨伞.谐音想象:一把大花伞下面,你系着一条花围裙[Virginia等于维吉尼亚]在和面[Maine],面里放满了崭新的火腿[NewHam+pshire],然后你吃着火腿面骑着马[马萨诸塞],牵[Connecticu]着牛[纽约]上路[Road等于Rhode]了,路上看到隆重的婚礼[Maryland],北方和南方的孪生姐妹坐在彩车[car]里[NorthCarolinaandSouthCarolina],新郎[NewJersey]和男傧相[宾州]站在桥[乔治亚州]上迎接新娘.)
*CauseorthecolonizationoftheNewWorld(理解记忆)
OpportunitywasthemagicwordthatdrewpeopletoAmerica.ItdrewEnglishnoblesandskilledworkmentoAmericaandmostofallitdrewthepoorandthehomelesromthefarmlandsandvillagesofEurope.ItofferedpeopleachancetoliveabetterlifethantheycouldhopeforintheOldWorld.
*ThePilgrims:Toescapereligiouspersecution,theyleftEnglandandlivedinLeyden,Holland,buttheyfearedtheirchildrenmightbeeDutchmen,soin1620,201themsailedtotheNewWorldinashipcalledMayflower.TheyarrivedatPlymouthandbuiltthePlymouthcolony.(他们刚到的那个冬天,有一半人都死了,后来印第安人教他们种玉米,丰收后,举行了第一个"感恩节",Thanksgivingcelebration,其实他们应该感谢印第安人.)
(201个英国人装在一朵有一艘船那么大的五月花里,一溜[16]烟钻进了美国的天鹅洞[20].)[ThePilgrimswereartisansandpeasants.]
*ThePuritansandtheMassachusettsBay
Thepuritanswerewealthyandwell-educatedgentlemen.TheywantedtopurifytheChurchofEngland.ThePuritansleaderssawtheNewWorldasarefugeprovidedbyGodforthoseHemeanttose.SoinMarch1630,thegreatPuritanmigrationbegan.From1630to1643,some200shipstransportedover20,000EnglishmentoMassachusettsBaycolony.(下午四点半[PM4:30等于Puritans+Massachusetts,4:30等于16:30等于1630]开始,13分钟之内[1630+13等于1643],200条船运了2万个英国佬到马萨诸塞!)
*Featuresofthenewcolonies(可以出选择题,结合后来的美国文化,容易理解)
Thefeatureswererepresentativeformofgovernment,ruleoflaw,respectofindividualrights,religioustoleranceandastrongspiritofindividualenterprise.
3.TheWarofIndependence
*ConflictsbetweentheBritishgovernmentandtheAmericanpeople
随着经济的发展,殖民地人民要更多的权利,英国政府要控制殖民地的发展,并且要征收更多的税.贸易不公平.实施StampTax给养军队.允许东印度公司低价销售茶叶,抢走美国茶商的生意.*The―BostonTeaParty‖
In1773,whenshipsofteareachedBoston,severaldozenBostonresidentsdressedasIndiansboardedtheshipsatnightandthrew$75,000worthofteaintotheharbor.Thiscametobeknownasthe―BostonTeaParty‖.
(在一个黑漆漆的晚上[1773],几十个波斯顿人上船倒掉了价值7万5千美金的茶叶,他们一边倒茶,一边高兴地翩翩起舞.[75,可以记住7万5])
*TheFirstContinentalCongress
InSeptember1774,theFirstCongresswasheldinPhiladelphiaencouragingAmercianstorefusetobuyBritishgoods.Colonialmilitiaunitswereanized.
(第一次代表大会1774在费城召开,组建民兵组织,口号是"让英国货一起去死吧!"[1774],再也不花费[费城]一分钱写英国货!)
*LexingtonandConcord
TheshotofLexington(1775)markedthestartoftheWarofIndependence.*TheSecondContinentalCongress
ThreeweeksafterthebattlesofLexingtonandConcord,theSecondContinentalCongresswasheldinPhiladelphia.Thedelegatesagreedtosupportthewar.TheCongresoundedaContinentalArmyandNyandappointedamitteetodraftaformaldeclaration.
*GeeWashington:TheCongresoundedaContinentalArmyandNyunderthemandofGeeWashington,aVirginian
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Turnerhasjustemergedfromtheworsttwoyearsofhislife--yearsthathehassaidlefthimfeeling"suicidal".Inspring2000,hewassuddenlysidelinedfromthebroadcastingpanyhehadbuiltfromscratch.Thenhiswifeofeightyears,theactressJaneFonda,camehomeonenightandinformedhimthatshewasnowaborn-againChristian,theydivorcedlastyear.Twoofhisgrandchildrendevelopedararegeicdisorder,andonedied.Turner'riendssaidhewasinconsolable.Then,justwhenhefeltitcouldgetnoworse,hebroughtthewrathofAmericauponhimselfbyaspeechinRhodeIslandsayingthattheSeptember11hijackershadbeen"bre".Thenhethrewhimselfintohischaritywork.Turner'sUNFoundation,thebiggestofhisthreecharities,recentlyspent$22.2inonemonthbatingintestinalparasitesinVietnamesechildren,reducingChina'sgreenhouse-gasemissionsandhelpingwomenfromBurkinaFasostartbusinessessellingnutbutter.NigelPritchard,CNN'sheadofinternationalpublicrelations,whoissittingbesideme,haspreparedamemooutliningsomethingshisbosightliketoconsidernotsaying.ItpolitelysuggeststhathemightsteerclearoftalkingaboutAOLTimeWarner,and,specifically,hemightliketooidreferencetothatRhodeIslandspeech.Turnerisnotoriouordoingashepleases.Earlyinhiscareer,hemadeapitchwearingnoclothestoadvertisingexecutives,later,hewenttoCubatogetFidelCastrototapeapromotionalslotforCNN.Hehasvariousworldsingprojects:frompreventingtheextinctionoftheChiricahualeopardfroginthewildsofNewMexicotofoundinganinfluentialnuclearnon-proliferationinstitute.Turnerreallydoesseemtoseehimselfaslockedinapersonalbattleagainstapocalypse.Hedoesn'tjustgivemoney:hisstaffaresometimestakenabacktoseehimskulkinginthestreetsnearby,pickinguplitter.WhenTurnergehiirstbilliontotheUN,hedropped67lacesontheForbes500richlist,outofthetop10forever.(Hiortunenowstandsat$3.8bn.)
Itisn'thardtoseehowTurner'schildhoodmightheinstilledthissenseofpermanentcrisis,ofdesperateinsecurity,behindthefrenziedactivitythatishistrademark.Hiather,fromwhomheinheritedanadvertisingbusinessthatheturnedintoCNN,waspronetofitsofrage,andbeathimwithacoathanger,hemittedsuicidewhenTurnerwas24.Evenbeforethat,hisyoungersisterhaddiedfromanimmunediseasewhenshewas12,andTedwassenttoaboardingschoolhehated.Hiather,hehassaid,notwithoutadmiration,believedthatinstillinginsecurityinhissonwouldhelphimtoachieve.Allinall,Turnerseemstohebeenawell-qualifiedcandidatefortotalpsychiccollapse."Butwheneverythinggoeswrong,"hesaystoday,"youcaneithergiveuporyoucantrytofight.Itriedtofight."
Afterabriefspellinthearmedforces,heploughedhisenergiesintohiather'sbillboardbusiness,purchasingaradiostationandusingemptybillboardstoadvertiseit.Hisradioempiregrew,andexpandedtolocaltelevision.By1980,hewaslaunchingCNN,althoughitwasnotuntiltheGulfwarthattheoften-deridedchannelcameintoitsown.HecreatedtheCartoonNetwork,andboughthundredsofoldMGMfilms,whichherecycledonanotherlucrativechannel,TurnerClassicMovies.HiirmeventuallymergedwithTimeWarner.ButthencameAOL,andGeraldLevin,thechiefexecutiveofthenewgiant,decidedhedidn'tneedTurner--orperhapscouldn'ttoleratehisunpredictability.Levinisgonenow,andhisreplacement,RichardParsons,hasbroughtTurnerbackintothefoldinanewvice-chairmanposition.ThelinefromcorporatemunicationsisthatTurnerisbackinthesaddle.ButthisisnothowTurnerseesit.
34.GeeSoros--thefinancialcrocodile
GeeSoroswantstobetheBonoofthefinancialworld.ThespeculatorwhoseassaultonsterlingejectedBritainfromtheEuropeanexchangeratemechanithatSeptemberof10yearsagohasamission--tousehisesti-mated£5bnfortuneandhiametohelptacklewhatheseesasthefailuresofglobalisation.Theideathatamanwhomadebillionsbettingonthefinancialmarketssideswiththeanti-globalisationmovementmightstrikesomeasironic.Sorosisclearlygenuinelyappalledatthedamagewroughtonvulnerableeconomiesbythevastsumsofmoneywhichflowacrossnationalborderseveryday.
"TheUSgovernstheinternationalsystemtoprotectitsowneconomy.Itisnotinchargeofprotectingothereconomies,"hesays."SowhenAmericagoesintorecession,youheanti-recessionarypolicies.Whenothercountriesareinrecession,theydon'thetheabilitytoengageinanti-recessionarypoliciesbecausetheycan'theapermissivemoarypolicy,becausemoneywouldflee."Inperson,hehastheairofaphilosophyprofessorratherthanagimlet-eyedfinancier.InasoftvoicewhichbearsthetracesofhisnativeHungary,hearguesthatitistimetorewritetheso-calledWashingtonconsensus--thecocktailofliberalization,privatizationandfiscalrectitudewhichtheIMFhasbeenpreachingfor15years.Developingcountriesnolongerhethefreedomtoruntheirowneconomies,heargues,evenwhentheyfollowperfectlysoundpolicies.HecitesBrazil,whichalthoughithasafloatingcurrencyandmanageablepublicdebtwaspayingtentimesovertheoddstoborrowfromcapitalmarkets.
Soros,whoatonestageafterthefalloftheBerlinWallwasprovidingmoreassistancetoRussiathantheUSgovernment,believesinpracticingwhathepreaches.HisOpenSocietyInstitutehasbeenpivotalinhelpingeasternEuropeancountriesdevelopdemocraticsocietiesandmarketeconomies.Soroshastheadvantageofaninsider'sknowledgeoftheworkingsofglobalcapitali,sohiscriticiisparticularlypointed.Lastyear,theSorooundation'sworkspentnearlyhalfabilliondollarsonprojectsineducation,publichealthandpromotingdemocracy,makingitoneoftheworld'slargestprivatedonors.
Soroscreditstheanti-globalizationmovementforhingmadepanieoresensitivetotheirwiderresponsibilities."Ithink[theprotesters]hemadeanimportantcontributionbymakingpeopleawareoftheflawsofthesystem,"hesays."Peopleonthestreethadanimpactonpublicopinionandcorporationswhichselltothepublicrespondedtothat."BecausetheIMFhasabandonedbilliondollarbailoutortroubledeconomies,hethinksarepeatoftheAsiancrisisisunlikely.Thefund'snew"toughlove"policy--forwhichArgentinaistheguineapig--hasotherconsequences.ThebailoutswereawelfaresystemforWallStreet,withwesterntaxpayersrescuingthebankromtheconsequencesofunwiselendingtoemergingeconomies.NowtheIMFhasdrawnalineinthesand,credittopoorcountriesisdryingup."Ithascreatedanewproblem--theinadequacyoftheflowofcapitalfromcentretotheperiphery,"hesays.
TheoneeconomySorosisnotlosinganysleepaboutistheUS."IammuchmorepositiveabouttheunderlyingeconomythanIamaboutthemarket,becausewearewagingwarnotonlyterroributalsoonrecession,"hesays."Althoughwedon'tadmitit,weareactuallyapplyingKeynesianremedies,andIamaconfirmedKeynesian.Ihenotyetseenaneconomyinrecessionwhenyouaregearingupforwar."Heworriesthattheworld'slargesteconomicpowerisnotlivinguptoitsresponsibilities."IwouldliketheUnitedStatestoliveuptotheresponsibilitiesofitshegemonicpowerbecauseitisnotgoingtogiveupitshegemonicpower,"hesays."TheonlythingthatisrealisticiortheUnitedStatestobeeawarethatitisinitsenlightenedself-interesttoensurethattherestoftheworldbenefitromtheirrole."
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35.BringingBackHonor
WhenEnsignAndrewLeeMunssuddenlyvanishednearly34yearsago,theU.S.Nybrandedhimadeserterandathief.Itwas1968,theU.S.waswaginganincreasinglyunpopularwarinVietnamandsailorswentmissingallthetime.MunswasthenewpaymasteraboardtheUSSCacapon,arefuelingshipbasedatSubicBayinthePhilippines.Whenhedissapeared,theNydiscoveredthat$8,600waissingfromtheship'ssafe,sinceMunshadaccesstosafe,officialsdecidedthathehadtakenthemoneyandrun.Caseclosed.
ButMuns'sister,MaryLouTaylor,couldn'taccepttheofficialversionofherbrother'sdisappearance.Shevowedtouncoverthetruthandrestoreherfamily'shonor."Itbrokemyfather'sheart等Heliterallyhadaheartattackthreeyearslater,"saidTaylor."I'mnotblamingtheNyforhisheartattack,butitwasharderthanjustlosingason."
Inthemid-1970s,afteryearsofholdingouthopethatMunightreturn,hiamilydecidedtohehimdeclaredlegallydead.ButwhentheyaskedtheNytosupplyanAmericanflagtopresenttohiamilyatthememorialservice,theNyrefused.
Eventually,Taylordecidedtochangethat.SheturnedtotheInter,postingamessageonaVietnamveterans'messageboardlookingforsailorswhoservedwithherbrotherontheCacapon.
Inastrokeofluck,aformermemberofthatcrew,TimRosaire,hadjustloggedontothebulletinboardforthefirsttime.
"Iinstantlyknewwhatitwas,"hesaid."Iwroteherbacksaying,'Yes,andImayhebeenoneofthelastpeopletoseehim.""Iknewhimwellenoughtoknowthathewouldn'thestolenthemoney,"saidRosaire,whosuppliedTaylorwithnamesandsomephotographsofothercrewmembers.
Taylortrackeddowntheship'scaptain,onlytolearnthathehadrecentlydied.ButhiswidowtoldTaylorherhusbandhadbeenhauntedbyMuns'disappearance,suspectingthatMunayhebeenthevictimoffoulplay.
TaylorbedthroughtheNy'soriginalreportsoftheinvestigation,andfoundthingsthatdidn'taddup."TherewerepeopleontheshipwhoweredeliberatelylyingtocreateamotiveforwhyAndywouldheleft,"sheconcluded.Andwhile$8,600waissing,therewas$51,000leftthesafe.Ifherbrotherhadstolenthemoney,whynotallofit
TheMunamilywantedthecasereopened,buttheNysaidsubstantialnewevidencewasneededtodoso.
Sointhemid-1990s,Taylorsetouttofindthatevidence.ShefoundtheagentwhohadoriginallyinvestigatedthecasefortheNalInvestigativeService,RayMcGady.McGadyhelpedTaylorgettheattentionofPeteHughes,headofthenewlycreated"cold-case"squadattheNalCriminalInvestigativeService.
Hughessoonagreedthattherewereanumberofquestionsthatremainedunanswered.Thirtyyearslater,forthefirsttime,thefocusnowshiftedfromathefttoahomicide.Hughesassembledateamofhomicideinvestigators,includingacriminalprofiler.Theystudiedthestatementrom1968andbeganreinterviewingcrewmembers.
Suspicionbegantofocusonseveralformercrewmembers,includingMichaelLeBrun,HehadaccesstothesafeandwasoneofthefirsttosuggestthatMunighthedeserted.
Eventually,LeBrun'sdefensescrumbled,andhedescribedindetailhowhehadstrangledMuns.HesaidthathehadstolenthemoneyandthatMunshadcaughthim.LeBrunsaidhepanickedandkilledtheensign.Lebrunexplainedhowhedumpedthebodyinoneoftheship'shugeoiltanks.Muns'bodywasneverfound.
Theinterviewwasrecordedonvideotape.Lebrunwaschargedwithmurder.Buthepleadednotguiltyandisoutonbail.
Afederaljudgehasagreed,inpart,rulingthatprosecutorscannotusethevideotapedconfessionbecauseLeBrun'sconstitutionalrightswereviolated.Withoutalegalandreliableconfession,thegovernmentdoesnothemuchofacase.
ButTaylorsaidshefinallygotwhatshewaslookingfor.33yearsafterMunsdisappearedaboardtheCacapon,aceremonialcasketcoveredwithanAmericanflagmadeitswaytoagresiteinArlingtonNationalCemetery.Friends,familyandnalcriminalinvestigatorscamefromaroundthecountrytowatchasMunswasgivenfullhonorsinrecognitionofhisservicetotheNyandhiscountry.
36.TheCentury'sGreatestMinds–AlbertEinstein
Thescientifictouchstonesofthemodernage——theBomb,spacetrel,electronics,Quantumphysics——allbearhisimprint.
Einsteinhadconjuredthewholebusiness,itseemed.Hedidnotinventthe―thoughtexperiment‖,butheraisedittohighart.Imaginetwins,wearingidenticalwatches,onestayshome,whiletheotherridesinaspaceshipnearthespeedoflight等littlewonderthatfrom1919,Einsteinwas——andremainstoday——theworld'ostfamousscientist.
InhisnativeGermanyhebecameatargetforhatred.AsaJew,aliberal,ahumanist,aninternationalist,heattractedtheenmityofrationalistandanti-semites.Hiswasnowapowerfulvoice,widelyheard,alwaysattendedto,especiallyafterhemovedtotheU.S.Heusedittopromotezioni,pacifi,inhissecret1939lettertoFranklinD.Roosevelt,theconstructionofauraniumbomb.
Meanwhile,likeanydemigod,hemadebitsoflegend:thathefailedmathinschool(nottrue).Thatheopenedabookandfoundanuncashed$1,500checkhehadleftasabookmark(maybe---hewasabsentmindedabouteverydayaffairs).Thathewascarelessaboutsocks,collars,slippers等thathecouldn'tevenrememberhisaddress:112MercerStreetinPrinceton,wherehefinallysettled.
Hediedtherein1955AndaftertherestofEinsteinhadbeencremated,hisbrainremained,soakingfordecadesinajarofformaldehydebelongingtoDr.ThomasHarvey.NoonehadbotheredtodissectthebrainofFreud,StrinskyorJoyce,butinthe1980s,bitsofEinsteiniangraymatterweremakingtheroundsofcertainneurobiologists,whothuslearned等absolutelynothing.Itwasjustabrain——thebrainthatdreamedaplasticfourthdimension,thatbanishedtheether,thatreleasedthepinsbindingustoabsolutespaceandtime,thatrefusedtobelieveGodplayeddice.
InembracingEinstein,ourcenturytookleeofaprioruniverseandanerstwhileGod.ThenewversionswerenotsorigidanddeterministicastheNewtonianworld.Einstein's.Godwasnoclockmaker,buttheembodimentofreasoninnature.ThisGoddidnotcontrolouractionsorevensitinjudgmentonthem.(―Einstein,stoptellingGodwhattodo,‖NielsBohrFinallyretorted.)ThisGodseemedratherkindlyandabsentminded,asamatteroffact.Physicswaree,andwetooarefree,intheEinsteinuniversewhichiswherewelive.
37.Einstein'sTheoryofRelativity
SpecialRelativity
Relativitysaysthatlightalwayovesinastraightlinethroughemptyspace,andalwaysatthesamespeedinacuum,nomatterwhatyourobservationpoint.Fromthesesimpleclaimollowbizarreconsequencethatchallengemonsenseandourperceptionofreality.
*Amovingclockrunsslowerthanastationaryonefromtheperspectiveofastationaryobserver.*Amovingobjectappearstoshrinkinthedirectionofmotion,asseenbyastationaryobserver
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GeneralRelativity
Ingeneralrelativity,timeisconsideredadimensionlikeheight,widthanddepth,creatingafourdimensionaluniversecalledspace-time.Einsteinarguedthatgrityisreallyawarpingofspace-time,withthegreatestdistortionsnearthemostmassiveobjects.Becauselighttrelsinastraightlinethroughthecontoursofspace-time,alightbeamwillcurvewherespace-timecurves,thiscurvingwairstmeasuredin1919
38.TheMasterofInvestment:WarrenBuffett
Forsomeonewhoissuchanextraordinarilysuccesulinvestor,WarrenBuffettesoffasaprettyordinaryguy.BornandbredinOmaha,Nebraska,formorethan40yearsBuffetthaslivedinthesamegraystuccohouseonFarnamStreetthatheboughtfor$31,500.Hewearsrumpled,nondescriptsuits,driveshisowncar,drinksCherryCoke,andiorelikelytobefoundinaDairyQueenthanafour-starrestaurant.
Butthe68-year-oldOmahanativehasledanextraordinarylife.Lookingbackonhischildhood,onecanseethebuddingofasvybusinesan.WarrenEdwardBuffettwasbornonAugust30,1930,themiddlechildofthree.Hiather,HowardBuffett,camefromafamilyofgrocersbuthimselfbecameastockbrokerandlateraU.S.congresan.
Evenasayoungchild,Buffettwasprettyseriousaboutmakingmoney.Heusedtogodoor-to-doorandsellsodapop.Heandafriendusedmathtodevelopasystemforpickingwinnersinhorseracingandstartedsellingtheir"Stable-BoySelections"tipsheetsuntiltheywereshutdownfornothingalicense.Later,healsoworkedathisgrandfather'sgrocerystore.Attheripeageof11,Buffettboughthiirststock.
WhenhiamilymovedtoWashington,D.C.,BuffettbecameapaperboyforTheWashingtonPostanditsrivaltheTimes-Herald.Buffettranhiivepaperrouteslikeanassemblylineandevenaddedmagazinestoroundouthisproductofferings.Whilestillinschool,hewaaking$175amonth,afull-timewageformanyyoungmen.
Whenhewas14,Buffettspent$1,200on40acresoffarmlandinNebraskaandsoonbegancollectingrentfromatenantfarmer.Heandafriendalsomade$50aweekbyplacingpinballmachinesinbarbershops.TheycalledtheirventureWilsonCoinOperatedMachineCo.
Alreadyasuccesulalbeitall-timebusinesan,Buffettwasn'tkeenongoingtocollegebutendedupatWhartonattheUniversityofPennsylvania--hiatherencouragedhimtogo.AftertwoyearsatWharton,Buffetttranerredtohisparents'almamater,theUniversityofNebraskainLincoln,forhiinalyearofcollege.ThereBuffetttookajobwiththeLincolnJournalsupervising50paperboysinsixruralcounties.
BuffettappliedtoHarvardBusinessSchoolbutwasturneddowninwhathadtobeoneoftheworstadmissionsdecisionsinHarvardhistory.TheouteendedupprofoundlyaffectingBuffett'slife,forheendedupattendingColumbiaBusinessSchool,wherehestudiedunderreveredmentorBenjaminGraham,thefatherofsecuritiesanalysiswhoprovidedthefoundationforBuffett'sinvestmentstrategy.
Fromthebeginning,Buffettmadehiortunefrominvesting.Hestartedwithallthemoneyhehadmadefromsellingpop,deliveringpapers,andoperatingpinballmachines.Between1950and1956,hegrewhis$9,800kittyto$14,000.Fromthere,heanizedinvestmentpartnershipswithhiamilyandfriends,andthengraduallydrewinotherinvestorsthroughwordofmouthandveryattractiveterms.
Buffett'sgoalwastotoptheDowJonesIndustrialAveragebyanerageof10%ayear.OverthelengthoftheBuffettpartnershipbetween1957and1969,Buffett'sinvestmentsgrewatapoundannualrateof29.5%,crushingtheDow'sreturnof7.4%overthesameperiod.
Buffett'sinvestmentstrategymirrorshislifestyleandoverallphilosophy.Hedoesn'tcollecthousesorcarsorworksofart,andhedisdainspaniesthatwastemoneyonsuchextragancesaslimousines,privatediningrooms,andhigh-pricedrealestate.Heisacreatureofhabit--samehouse,sameoffice,samecity,samesoda--anddislikeschange.Inhisinvestments,thatmeansholdingonto"coreholdings"suchasAmericanExpress,Coca-Cola,andTheWashingtonPostCo."forever."
Buffett'sviewofinheritedmoneyalsodepartromthenorm.Criticaloftheself-indulgenceofthesuper-rich,Buffettthinksofinheritancesas"privatelyfundedfoodstamps"thatkeepchildrenoftherichfromleadingnormal,independentlives.Withhisownthreekids,hegethemeach$10,000ayear--thetax-deductiblelimit--atChristmas.Whenhegethemaloan,theyhadtosignawrittenagreement.Whenhisdaughter,alsonamedSusielikehermother,needed$20toparkattheairport,hemadeherwritehimacheckforit.
Aorcharity,Buffett'sstrictstandardshemadeitdifficultforhimtogivemuchaway.Heevaluatescharitiesthesamewayhelookorstocks:valueformoney,returnoninvestedcapital.HehasestablishedtheBuffettFoundation,designedtoaccumulatemoneyandgiveitawayafterhisandhiswife'sdeaths--thoughthefoundationhasgivenmillionstoanizationsinvolvedwithpopulationcontrol,familyplanning,abortion,andbirthcontrol.TheargumentgoesthatBuffettcanactuallygiveawayagreatersumintheendbygrowinghioneywhilehe'sstillalive.
Onething'orsureaboutBuffett:He'shappydoingwhathe'sdoing."IgettodowhatIliketodoeverysingledayoftheyear,"hesays."IgettodoitwithpeopleIlike,andIdon'thetoassociatewithanybodywhocauseystomachtochurn.Itapdancetowork,andwhenIgetthereIthinkI'msupposedtolieonmybackandpainttheceiling.It'stremendouun."It'untowatchthemasteratwork,too.
39.Marathonboy,four,runsintostormofexploitationclaims
ForhisarmiesofcheeringfansinIndia'sslums(在印度贫民窟中众多兴奋的仰慕者看来),heisaallbutnimblemiracle,destinedtorunhiswayintohistoryasoneoftheworld'sgreatestathletes.
BudhiaSingh,afour-year-oldurchin,canpletea26-milemarathonfasterthanmanyrunnerswhoaretwicehisheightandmanytimeshisage.
Butjustaameandfortunebeckon-andatriptoBritaintostarinatelevisiondocumentary(电视记录片)-doctorswhoheexaminedthechildphenomenonhelaiddownanearlyfinishinglinetohiscareer(提前为其运动生涯划上了句号).
Alarmedattelevisionfootageofhimcollapsinginthefinalstagesofarecord-breaking43-milerun,IndianhealthofficialsorderedpolicetotakehimintohospitalonFridayforteststoseeiftheintenseexercisewasdamaginghisyoungbody.
Resultsdeliveredyesterdayconfirmedthosefears-withdoctorswarningthathewillsoonbeaphysicalwreck.
"Makingachildthisagerunmarathonsonaregularbasiswillleadtohimbeingphysicallyburntoutinafewyears",saidDrManabendraBhattacharyaoftheSportsAuthorityofIndia,whodiscoveredthatBudhiahadabnormallyhighpulseandbloodpressurereadings."It'snotdesirabletosubmitsuchayoungbodytosomuchstressandstrain.Thosewhothinkthey'redoingthechildaservicebypromotinghimtorunsuchlongdistancesarecausinghimterribledamage."
Budhia-hailedastheworld'syoungestmarathonrunner,althoughhehasnobirthcertificatetoprovehisage-isnowthesubjectofalegalwranglebetweenthestateauthoritiesandhiscoach,whostandsaccusedofexploitingandmaltreatingtheboy.
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Thecontroversyisbeingplayedoutamidhugemediainterestintheboy'sstory,ataleofragstorichesthathastranixedtheIndianpublic.Thesonofanilliteratedishwashermotherandanalcoholicbeggarfather,Budhiawassoldfor800rupees(£10)toastreethawkerafterhiatherdiedthreeyearsago.
Hisphysicalstaminawasspottedbyajudocoach,BiranchiDas,whocaughthimbullyinganotherchildnearhisclubonedayandorderedhimtohimrunroundanathleticstrackasapunishment.Whenhereturnedfivehourslater,expectingthechildtobelonggone,hefoundhimstilldoinglaps.
SincethenMrDas,whoclaimstohelegallyadoptedhim,hasbeentraininghimup,feedinghimahigh-proteindietofmeat,eggs,milkandsoyabeans.Herunsupto20mileseverysecondday,andhastakenpartinsixbigraces,bringingoffersoflucrativesponsorshipdeals,accordingtoMrDas.
Buthisachievementshebeenlesswellreceivedbysomegovernmentofficials,whoareanxioustocounterIndia'simageasacountrythatturnsablindeyetochildexploitation.PramilaMalik,aministerofstateforwomenandchildwelfare,accusedMrDasofturningtheboyinto"aperformingmonkey".
MrDas,39,saidthathewaakingnomoneyoutofBudhiaandinsistedheonlyhadthechild'sinterestsatheart."Iheadoctorcheckonhimeveryfewdaysandhe'ine,"hesaid.
HehasthebackingofBudhia'other,SukantiSingh,35,andhersonislikewiseunconcerned."Iloverunning,Inevergettired,"hesaid.BudhiaisduetoflytoLondononMay15atthebehestofBritish-basedTouchProductions,whichiakingadocumentaryabouthimforFiveandtheDiscoveryChannel.Touchsaysthatitispayingtheexpensesofthetripbutthatnofeeisbeingpaidtotheboy,hiotherorcarers.
BritishexpertssidedwithDrBhattacharya.RichardGodfrey,asportssciencelecturerandformerchiefphysiologistattheBritishOlympicMedicalCentre,said:"Thisladwillprobablystopgrowingsoonbecausetheimpactfromhisrunningwillhedamagedtheendsofhisbones."
MalcolmBrinkworth,theexecutiveproducerofTouchProductions,stressedthatthehealthconcernswouldberaised."Wearemakinganobjectivedocumentary,lookinerycarefullyattheissuesinvolved.We'renottryingtobepartofanyprocessofexploitingthischild,"hesaid.
40.RagstoRiches
ChrisGardnertells20/20howheworkedtomovehimselffromalifeofhomelessnesstoasuccesullifeasabusinesan.
GardneristheheadofhisownbrokeragefirmandlivesinaChicagoTownhouse--oneofhisthreehomeswithacollectionoftailoredsuits,designershoes,andMilesDisalbums.
Hispathtothisextraordinarysuccesstookaseriesofextraordinaryturns.Just20yearsago,Gardnerwashomelessandliving,onoccasion,inabathroomataBayAreaRapidTransitstationinOakland,Calif.
Gardnerwasraisedbyhiother,aschoolteacher.Hesaysheneverknewhiatherwhilehewasgrowingup.Buthiotherhadawayofkeepinghimgroundedwhenhedreamedofthingslikebeingajazztrumpeter.
"Mothersheawayofsayingthings,"Gardnersaid,"Sheexplainedtome,'Son,there'sonlyoneMilesDisandhegotthatjob.Soyouhetodosomethingelse.Butwhatthatsomethingelsewas,Ididnotknow.'"
Gardnercreditshisuncleswithprovidingthemaleinfluenceheneeded.Manyofthemweremilitaryveterans.So,straightoutofhighschool,heenlistedintheNyforfouryears.Hesaysitgehimasenseofwhatwaspossible.
41.ARedFerrariandaTurningPoint
Afterthemilitary,Gardnertookajobasamedicalsupplysalean.Then,hesays,hereachedanotherturningpointinhislife.Inaparkinglot,hemetamandrivingaredFerrari."Hewaslookingforaparkingspace.AndIsaid,'Youcanhemine.ButIgottaaskyoutwoquestions.'Thetwoquestionswere:WhatdoyoudoAndhowdoyoudothatTurnsoutthisguywasastockbrokerandhewaaking$80,000amonth."
Gardnerbeganknockingondoors,applyingfortrainingprogramsatbrokerages,eventhoughitmeanthewouldhetoliveonnexttonothingwhilehelearned.Whenhefinallywasacceptedintoaprogram,helefthisjobinmedicalsales.Buthisplanscollapsedassuddenlyastheyhadmaterialized.Themanwhoofferedhimthetrainingslotwaired,andGardnerhadnojobtogobackto.
Thingsgotworse.Hewashauledofftojailfor$1,200inparkiniolationsthathecouldn'tpay.Hiswifelefthim.Thensheaskedhimtocarefortheiryoungsonwithouther.Despitehislackofresources,Gardnersaid,"ImadeupmymindasayoungkidthatwhenIhadchildren,mychildrenweregonnaknowwhotheirfatherwas."Althoughabrokerfinallyhelpedhimenteratrainingprogram,Gardnerwoundupwithnoplacetolive.Hewascollectingameagerstipendasabrokeragetrainee,and,likemanyworkingpoorinAmerica,hehadajobbutcouldn'tmakeendeet.
42.TheKindnessofStrangers
Whenhecouldaffordit,hestayedwithhisson,ChrisJr.,incheapmotels.Whentheyreturnedhomeatnight,Gardnersays,hereceivedhelpfromsomeunexpectedsources.―Theladiesoftheeveningwerebeginningtheirshift.Andtheywouldalwaysseemyself,thisbabyandthestroller.
‖Sotheystartedgivinghim$5bills.Withouttheirhelp,Gardnersaid,therewouldhebeennightswhenhecouldn'thefedhisson.TheRev.CecilWilliams,founderofGlideMemorialChurchinSanFrancisco,remembersthefirsttimehesawGardner,whohadgonetothechurchwithhissontostandinamealline.Hesaid,―Iwondered,Whatintheworldisamandoingwithababy'
EventoWilliams,itwasanunusualsight.TheUrbanInstituteestimatesthatchildrenmakeup25percentofthenation'shomelesspopulation,butmostarelivingwithasinglemother,notthefather.
ItIsaGreenThing
WithWilliams'helpandaroomsuppliedbyGlideMemorialwhenheneededit,Gardnernotonlymadeitthroughthebrokeragetrainingprogram,hepassedhislicensingexamonthefirsttry.
GardnerwenttoworkmakingcoldcallsatthefirmofDeanWitter.Hesaysnooneatthefirmknewhewashomeless.―Iwasthefirstoneatwork,Iwasthelastonetolee.I'dbeonthephone,200phonecallsaday.That'swhattheynoticed,‖hesaid.―EverytimeIpickedupthatphone,Iwasdiggingmywayoutofthishole.‖
‖GardnermovedontoBear,Stearns.Ashelearnedthebusiness,healsolearnedthatitcamewithsomeunpleasantbaggage.BecauseAfrican-Americanbrokerswererare,onephonecustomer,assumingthatGardnerwaswhite,toldracistjokesasheplacedhisorders.Whentheclientcameforaface-to-facemeeting,Gardnersays,―HewaseithergonnaclosehisaccountwithmeorIwasgonnagetallhisbusiness.‖
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Gardnerkepttheaccount.―That'swhenIlearnedinthisbusinessit'snotablackthing,it'snotawhitething,it'sagreenthing.Ifyoucanmakememoney,Idon'tcarewhatcoloryouare.‖
In1987,with$10,000incapital,GardnerstartedhisownpanyinChicago,operatingatfirstfromhishome.HispanyisnowaninstitutionalbrokeragefirmwithofficesinChicago'inancialdistrict.
Ironically,whenSanFrancisco'sBayAreaRapidTransitSystemissuednewbondstoraisemoneyafewyearsago,oneoftheunderwriterswasGardner'spanyrunbyamanwho,whenhewashomeless,hadbathedhissoninthebathroomofoneofitstrainstations.
43.NoBooks,NoBucks
Hehasdonatedmoneytoeducationalprojectsinmemoryofhiother.AndhehasbeenhonoredforhisworkonbehalfofananizationcalledCareerGear,whichhelpsclotheandadviseyoungpeoplewhoareapplyingforjobs.
Whenhespeaksathighschoolshekeepshiessagesimple,tellingstudents:―Nobooks,nobucks.That'sit.‖
HealsohasreturnedmanytimestoGlideMemorialinSanFrancisco,notonlytodonatemoney,buttoworkonthefoodlinewhereheusedtostand.―Iseeme,Iseemyson20yearsago,‖hesaid.―AndIknowhowimportantthiealistothatindividual,tothatman,thatwoman.‖
44.GeneralYuefei
Yuefei(1103-1142A.D.)wasaChinesewarheroandgeneralthatlivedduringtheSouthernSongDynasty.Anacplishedmilitaryman,hewashailedasthereasonthatthedynastywasabletodefenditselfagainstvarioustribesthatinvadedcentralChinaduringthistime.Hisloyalty,however,waseventuallyquestionedintheChinesehighcourt,andhewasimprisonedandexecutedat39yearsofage.Whenanewemperor,XiaoZong,rosetopower,YueFeiwasclearedposthumouslyandatempleandmonumentwereconstructedinhishonor.Histomb,constructedin1221,islocatedinthegardenoutsidethetempleandiarkedbyalargegrasound.Infrontofthetombarefourcastironstatues,kneelinginsubmission,whichrepresentthefourpeopleresponsibleforframinghimandhinghimexecuted.Yuefei,throughhisactionsinlife,theeventssurroundinghisdeath,andtheimagethathasbeencultivatedbystorytellers,monersandemperorsalike,hasbeenelevatedtothestatusofnationalhero.HisstoryistoldtoChinesechildren,emphasizingtheConfuciantraditionofcourageandtenacity.Today,histempleisapictureoftranquility,withlargestatueemoratinghimasoneofChina'sgreatestgenerals.Thegardensthatsurroundthetombandthewholetempleplexarequietandpeaceful,despitethefactthatacityof6millioniunctioningoutsidethewallsofthetemples.Thetemplesthemselvesarebeautiful,boastingornatewoodwork,floor-to-ceilingmuralsandcalligraphytellingthestoryofYuefei,andinlaidgoldsprinkledthroughout.
45.ThomasEdison
There'samonstorythatcirculatesabout"successandfailure"thatI'mcuriousastoitsauthenticity.Thestorygoesthat"ThomasEdisonfailedmorethan1,000timeswhentryingtocreatethelightbulb".(Thestoryisoftentoldas5,000or10,000timesdependingontheversion.)Whenaskedaboutit,Edisonallegedlysaid,"Ihenotfailed1,000times.Ihesuccesullydiscovered1,000waystoNOTmakealightbulb."..."Ihenotfailed700times.Ihenotfailedonce.Ihesucceededinprovingthatthose700wayswillnotwork.WhenIheeliminatedthewaysthatwillnotwork,Iwillfindthewaythatwillwork."–Edison.
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