China's economy: Bamboo capitalism | The Economist

China's economy: Bamboo capitalism | The Economist

How to Read the Economist Magazine Effectively

1. Carefully read "The world this week" section. It spans only two pages and contains several sentence snippets of world events in politics and business for the past week. This is a great way to orient your mind to world events.
   
2. Carefully read all articles in the "Leaders" section, paying particular attention to the first leader. These opinion pieces generally provide thoughtful analysis on topics most important to the Economist that week. They generally call for action of some sort, but provide balanced information. The entire section spans several pages.
   
3. At various points, you will come across "Briefing" articles. Pay attention to these, as they are some of the best articles in any given week. Also pay attention to the special reports that come out occasionally. They will appear towards the middle of the issue and contain around fourteen pages of articles on a particular topic.
   
4. Quickly skim through the "Letters" section, noting who the author is. It is not uncommon for an influential politician or scientist to comment on a past article. Also, the last letter is usually light-hearted and fun. This section spans one to two pages.
   
5. Scan the "On Economist.com" section. It's only one page, but gives information about items of interest currently on their website.
   
6. The next group of sections contain articles on current political and social events in different regions of the world. These sections include "United States", "The Americas", "Asia", "Middle East and Africa", "Europe", "Britain", and "International". It is easy to become bogged down in these sections. Read the first article in each section carefully, then scan the rest unless a particular article interests you. Other articles in these sections that should be carefully read are "Lexington", "Banyan", "Charlemagne", and "Bagehot", which can be found in the "United States", "Asia", "Europe", and "Britain" sections, respectively.
   
7. Quickly read through the "Business" articles, paying particular attention to the first article and the last "Face value" article, which details an influential business person.
   
8. Carefully read the "Finance and economics" section. This section is the bread and butter of the Economist Magazine. You'll find careful and thoughtful analysis, and will come away having learned something new.
   
9. Quickly read through the "Science and technology" articles. The writers do a magnificent job of breaking down complex scientific findings and theories.
   
10. Scan through the "Books and arts" articles as well as the "Obituary" article. This last article details the life of a recently deceased lesser known individual who nonetheless made an impact on the world.
11. Scan through the "Economic and financial indicators", paying attention to the blue box information on the bottom of the page.
    
    Read more: How to Read the Economist Magazine Effectively | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5159645_read-economist-magazine-effectively.html#ixzz1FtiTHuPC

Time Management Parable

One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget.

As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers he said,

"Okay, time for a quiz" and he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar.

When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, "Is this jar full?" Everyone in the class yelled, "Yes."

The time management expert replied, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. He then asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?"

By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered.

"Good!" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, "Is this jar full?" "No!" the class shouted.

Once again he said, "Good." Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things in it!"

"No," the speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is: If you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all."

What are the 'big rocks' in your life, time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching or mentoring others? Remember to put these big rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all. So, tonight, or in the morning, when you are reflecting on this short story, ask yourself this question: What are the 'big rocks' in my life? Then, put those in your jar first.

Busy (by Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter ask for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. The paid was really good and so were the work conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

"Congratulations," the boss said. "Go on that way!"

Very motivated for the boss's words, the woodcutter try harder the next day, but he only could bring 15 trees. The third day he try even harder, but he only could bring 10 trees.Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

"I must be losing my strength", the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

"When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked.

"Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..."

適合高中生練習聽力的網站

國高中的英文課大都只重視閱讀、文法，能練習聽力、會話、及寫作的機會實在不多，簡單區分閱讀、聽力是input，會話、寫作是output，那麼國高中訓練的僅有input裡的一小塊，實在失之偏頗，其他能力靠自己利用課外的機會或資訊培養。以下提供一些適合練習高中生練習英語聽力的好網站，希望能有所幫助。

1. English as a Second Language Podcast: 個人非常推薦這個網站，除了一些較進階的資源外，所有聽力資源都是免費的，每一段program都會先用較慢的速度念一遍，然後開始講解內容、生字，最後再用正常的速度念一遍，方常適合英語非母語的人士學習。
2. Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab: 提供相當多的生活對話，並且分成easy、medium、difficult三個等級，聽完還有練習題可以做，很適合自修或準備TOEIC。
3. elllo: 對話採interview方式，可以練習聽各種不同口音的英文，對準備TOEIC也很有幫助。