The Man in the Arena by Theodore Roosevelt, 1910 It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Google Translate 重要的不是批评家，不是指出强者如何跌倒的人，也不是指出实干家在哪里可以做得更好的人。荣誉属于真正站在竞技场上的人，他的脸上沾满了尘土、汗水和鲜血；他英勇奋斗；他犯错，他一次又一次地失败，因为没有努力就不会有错误和缺点；但他确实努力去做事；他懂得伟大的热情，伟大的奉献；他为有价值的事业奉献自己；在最好的情况下，他最终会感受到巨大成就的胜利，在最坏的情况下，如果他失败了，至少也是在勇敢地失败的时候失败了，所以他的位置永远不会与那些既不知道胜利也不知道失败的冷漠胆怯的灵魂相提并论。 Wish you all the best， Rein

Episode Notes 1) Slow is Fast 2) Talk and think out loud 3) Pronunciation, not accent - Focus on the vowels, A E I O U 4) Increase vocabulary 5) Listen and Shadow - News, documentary, audiobooks 6) Limit your use filler words and slang - Like, um, eh, ah, right, okay, you know 7) Don't be afraid of mistakes 8) Keep practicing - It's about consistency Till next time, Rein

English Short Story Cream by Haruki Murakami If anyone has suggestions of where to upload the transcript, please let me know. It's too long to paste in the description Thanks, Rein

Article Summary: Originally by Bronnie Ware of Stylist Magazine Life Moves Fast Every day, there’s a lot going on, all fighting for your attention. Some of it is great — and some of it just wastes your time. So how do you know what’s really worth your time? The answer: Remember that your time is sacred. You won’t live forever and you are actually going to die one day The more you remember that, the more you’ll live a life that feels good to you — not just one that follows what other people expect. It can help to learn from those who’ve already lived full lives — people who reached the end of their lives and shared the things they wished they had done differently. Here are the top regrets people have when they are dying — and how you can avoid them: 1. "I Wish I Lived My Own Life, Not Just What Others Expected" When you’re young, it’s normal to copy your parents and the people around you. That’s how you learn. They did the best they could based on their own life experiences. But as you grow up, you realize you’re your own person. You might like different things and believe in different ideas than how you were raised. And that’s okay. Many people, when dying, realized they hadn’t had the courage to follow their own hearts — and that made them very sad. Life is asking you now: Be brave. Live your truth. Use your precious time wisely. 2. "I Wish I Hadn't Worked So Hard" Loving your job is great! But it’s easy to get stuck working all the time, especially with how connected we are through technology. Many people realized too late that work had taken over their lives. When they couldn’t work anymore, they felt lost — no hobbies, no joy, just work memories. Fear (like fear of not having enough money or fear of being judged) often keeps people stuck working too much. You can choose differently. Make space for fun, friendships, and family too. It will actually make you better at your work and happier in life. 3. "I Wish I Had Expressed My Feelings More" As a kid, when you were sad, you cried. When you were happy, you danced. When you were mad, you showed it. As you get older, you learn to hide your feelings to fit in. Over time, it can feel "normal" to stay quiet — even when you need to speak up. But being honest about how you feel is important. Whether it’s sharing your love, standing up for yourself, or just saying what’s on your mind — it takes courage, but it’s worth it. Start small. Practice speaking your truth with kindness. The more you do it, the freer and stronger you’ll feel. 4. "I Wish I Had Stayed Close With My Friends" Thanks to phones and social media, it’s easy to think you’re staying in touch with friends. A text here, a comment there. But real connection — laughing together, talking face to face, sharing memories — is what truly keeps friendships strong. Many people, at the end of their lives, missed their old friends. They wanted to laugh about old times, feel understood, and remember they belonged. Don’t wait. Texting is good, but real time together is even better. Make time for it. 5. "I Wish I Had Let Myself Be Happier" Happiness isn’t just about getting lucky. It’s something you choose — even when life is hard. Hard times help you grow stronger and wiser. But you don’t have to stay stuck in sadness or old stories forever. You can choose to look for the good things, to feel grateful, and to believe you deserve happiness. Many people realized too late that they had let others decide whether they were "worthy" of being happy. It broke their hearts. Remember: - You get to choose what you focus on. - You get to choose joy. In the end: Every brave choice you make to live true to yourself leads you away from regret — and toward a life full of meaning and happiness. And when you do that, you help make the world better for everyone. We’re all in this together.

Originally from the Atlantic Magazine by Ben Healey Summary: What Are Dreams For? Dreams are still a mystery, but many scientists and psychologists have come up with different ideas about why we dream. Here are some of the most well-known theories: - Sigmund Freud, the famous psychologist, believed that dreams show us our hidden thoughts and desires — things we might not even realize we want or feel. - Newer research has other ideas. Some scientists think dreams help us: - Deal with strong emotions. - Organize and store memories. - Make sense of random brain activity while we sleep. - Practice how to respond to danger or stress. - Other experts believe dreams don’t have any deep purpose. They say dreams are just ways for our minds to act out personal thoughts and worries. Even though Freud’s theory doesn’t have much scientific support today, it’s still very popular. Studies have shown that many students in the U.S., South Korea, and India still believe that dreams reveal hidden truths. In fact, in one study, people said they would feel more scared if they had a dream about a plane crash than if they heard an official warning about a real terrorist attack. This shows how seriously people take their dreams. What Happens in Our Dreams? Most of our dreams happen during a stage of sleep called REM sleep (REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement). People usually have four or five REM cycles each night, and that’s when dreams are most vivid. Some interesting facts about dreams: - 8% of dreams are about sex, and this is true for both men and women. - But there are differences: - Women are twice as likely to dream about a celebrity or public figure. - Men are twice as likely to dream about having multiple partners. - Anxiety is very common in dreams. In a study of Canadian university students, the most common dream topics (aside from sex) were: - School - Falling - Being chased - Being late for something important Dreams Are Different Across Time and Cultures Dreams aren’t the same for everyone. They can be influenced by the time period you grew up in and where you live. - People who grew up watching black-and-white TV are more likely to dream in black and white. - In a 1958 study comparing American and Japanese people: - Americans were more likely to dream about: - Being in jail - Losing a loved one - Finding money - Being naked or dressed inappropriately - Meeting someone who’s insane - Japanese people were more likely to dream about: - School - Trying and failing at something over and over - Being frozen in fear - Dangerous or wild animals And it’s not just humans who dream! Almost all mammals dream, as well as birds, some lizards, and even one type of sea creature: the cuttlefish. The animal that dreams the most is the platypus, which can spend up to eight hours a day in REM sleep! Can Bad Dreams Be Good for You? Even scary or stressful dreams might actually help us in real life. In one study, students preparing for a difficult French medical school exam had dreams about problems during the test — like being late or forgetting answers. Surprisingly, the students who had these kinds of dreams did better on the test than the students who didn’t dream about it at all. That suggests that dreaming about challenges might help the brain prepare for them. So What’s the Point of Dreams? In the end, dreams might not mean anything at all — or they might help us understand ourselves better, process emotions, or get ready for real-life situations. So if you ever dream about falling, being chased, and having a strange school-related sexual experience — don’t worry! It might just be your brain running wild. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s helping you get ready in case something that weird ever really happens.

By Ephrat Livni Walk Your Way to Peace and Creativity Even though life today is full of modern conveniences and technology, many of us still feel stressed, anxious, or burned out. Popular songs often talk about sadness and pressure. The word “burnout” became very popular in 2019, showing how many people feel overwhelmed. There’s so much advice available—through books, apps, and online experts—that it can be hard to know what actually helps. One professor named Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, who teaches English at Belmont University in Tennessee, suggests a simple solution: go for a walk. She shares an old Latin saying, Solvitur ambulando, which means, “It is solved by walking.” By “it,” she means nearly anything that’s bothering you. Whitehouse believes that walking can improve your health, calm your mind, and boost creativity. She even wrote a book called Afoot and Lighthearted, which is like a journal with activities, quotes, and facts about the benefits of walking. It includes inspiring words from famous thinkers, artists, and scientists, along with fun exercises to help you relax and reflect while walking. This idea isn’t new. In the 1800s, the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard said walking helped him feel better, think clearly, and shake off bad moods. He believed that no problem was too big to walk away from. Whitehouse wants people today to use walking as a tool for dealing with stress and staying focused. She says that walking helps you be present in the moment, feel less anxious, and step away from all the digital distractions in our lives (as long as you’re not staring at your phone while walking!). She explains that when life feels too fast, walking is her way of slowing down and paying attention to what really matters. She was inspired by Shakespeare too. In his play The Tempest, a character named Prospero says he will take a walk to calm his mind. Whitehouse started taking regular walks to feel peaceful and more focused. It worked so well that she even created a class about walking, writing, and well-being, which she’s taught for six years. Her book is small and light, so you can carry it easily. It’s made to be opened to any page for quick ideas and encouragement—perfect for our busy lives. It’s like a helpful friend that reminds you to slow down and think creatively. But you don’t need a book to get started. People have used walking to feel better and think clearly for thousands of years. Just going for a simple walk can help you clear your mind, solve problems, and feel more free. That’s why writer Rebecca Solnit once said that “democracy should be exercised regularly, on foot”—meaning that walking helps us connect with ourselves and the world in a powerful way. Walking can also have a deep, spiritual effect. A Buddhist teacher named Thich Nhat Hanh taught that walking slowly and paying attention to each step and breath can be a form of meditation. He said that mindful walking helps us notice the good things in life and feel more at peace. When we feel angry, worried, or upset, it’s easy to focus only on our problems. But walking mindfully helps us see what’s going well instead. According to Thich Nhat Hanh, every time we walk like this, we help ourselves and the world around us heal. So, next time you’re feeling stressed, upset, or just bored, don’t rush to your phone or look up more advice online. Instead, take a walk—just like the famous composer Beethoven did every day at noon to refresh his creativity. Walking might be the secret to unlocking your best ideas. At the very least, it will help you feel calmer. As poet Simon Armitage said, “You never come back from a walk feeling worse.”

Original Article by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Summary: **Understanding Ambition: A Powerful Yet Tricky Force** Ambition is one of the most powerful forces that drives people. It pushes us to go beyond just surviving. Ambition helps people build, create, improve, and achieve more than what already exists. Studies show that ambition plays a big role in how much education someone gets, how successful they are in their career, how well they perform at work, and even how much money they make. At its heart, ambition means not being satisfied with how things are. It’s the inner push to grow, change, and challenge limits—both personal and social. In a way, ambition means never feeling like you've done enough. It drives leaders to take charge, dream up new ideas, and bring people together to work toward something bigger. It fuels entrepreneurs to take risks and believe that things can and should be better. Without ambition, progress would slow down. With it, people push past old rules, solve problems, and build new solutions. The world we live in has been shaped by ambitious people—those who didn’t want to accept the way things were. From the discovery of fire to the invention of artificial intelligence, major breakthroughs have happened because some people wanted to leave a mark. Ambition turns frustration into action and ideas into real things. It helps explain why certain people become leaders or inventors, and why societies grow and change. But ambition must be used carefully and ethically. When used right, it helps everyone, not just the person pursuing their dream. **The Need for Balance** Like many powerful traits, ambition works best in balance. If someone has too little ambition, they might drift through life without direction or purpose. But if someone has too much, it can become an obsession. This obsession can take over their life, making them ignore teamwork, relationships, or even right and wrong. When ambition goes too far, it stops helping and starts demanding—often asking people to give up their values, relationships, and well-being. Too much ambition can make people see themselves as heroes in a competition, rather than as team members working toward a shared goal. This can lead to a toxic work culture where people no longer trust each other. A person focused only on their own success may hurt the team and the organization, even if they get great results. Ambition without limits can also lead to greed—a hunger not just to succeed, but to dominate. This kind of mindset can excuse unethical behavior, treat people as tools, and destroy what makes a business or team healthy. In the end, businesses built only on ambition often collapse from burnout, bad decisions, or scandals. **A Real Example: WeWork and Adam Neumann** Adam Neumann, the co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, is a clear example of what can go wrong when ambition goes too far. Neumann had a big dream: to change how people live and work. His passion and energy helped WeWork grow very fast, with billions of dollars in investments. At one point, the company was valued at $47 billion. But Neumann’s ambition started to get out of control. He expanded into housing and education, even when those ideas didn’t fit with the company’s main business. Reports came out that he was behaving erratically and mixing his personal interests with company money. The company culture started to revolve around his personal image instead of smart leadership. In 2019, WeWork tried to go public, but investors started asking tough questions. They found problems with the company’s finances and with Neumann’s leadership. The stock offering failed, Neumann had to step down, and the company’s value dropped quickly. Neumann’s ambition wasn’t bad in itself—but without discipline and humility, it ended up hurting the company. **The Healthiest Kind of Ambition** The best kind of ambition is connected to a sense of purpose. It includes self-awareness and a desire to help others, not just to get ahead personally. Healthy ambition lifts everyone—not just the person who’s racing to the top.

From CBS News

Originally from The Economist Magazine June 7, 2025

Short Story written by Earnest Hemingway 1933 (明威的短篇小说 1933) 02:05 Story Starts Transcript 文本 12:04 Summary

"Why Don't You Dance" by Ramond Carver (1978) 短篇小说 （你为什么不跳舞） 02:19 Story Starts Transcript 文本 12:28 Summary Vocabulary 词汇： Chiffonier- A tall chest of drawers, often with a mirror on top. (衣橱） Mince - Cut up or grind food (剁碎) Pissed - Drunk or tipsy （醉）. Today, however, mostly means angry or upset. (愤怒，生气）In British English, it still means really drunk (Thanks to pz0 for pointing this out)

NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang's Graduation Ceremony Speech at Caltech on June 14, 2024 英伟达CEO 黄仁勋加州理工大学毕业典礼演讲 6-14-2024 04:22 Speech Starts Transcript 中央文本 Vocabulary GPU - Graphics Processing Unit 图形处理器 CPU - Central Processing Unit 中央处理器 CUDA - （Compute Unified Devices Architecture，统一计算架构[1]）是由英伟达（NVIDIA）所推出的一种软硬件集成技术，是该公司对于GPGPU的正式名称。透过这个技术，用户可利用NVIDIA的GPU进行图像处理之外的运算 Till next time, Rein