The noises late one night were unusual. Either an intruder or wouldbe robber is pressing his luck1. Quietly slipping on my robe and shoes I creep to the front door and flip on the outside light.2 Befo
The noises late one night were unusual. Either an intruder or wouldbe robber is pressing his luck1. Quietly slipping on my robe and shoes I creep to the front door and flip on the outside light.2 Before I can wrench the door open， outside a crashing sound of metal on pavement and feet running away are heard. Immediately I notice the two small， white， foot-high Christmas trees with automatic colorful lights are missing from my porch. Dark， vacant spots on the porch have replaced colorful blinking lights. My bike is also gone. I ease past parked cars lining the front sidewalk area. In the darkness， I see my Wal-Mart mountain bicycle now lying in the middle of the parking lot pavement. The rear wheel is still locked and chained. The thieves have vanished in thin air. This has been a close call3， but is a warning about life in the civilized Wild West. Many people are desperate and people are dying.
I am determined to slowly transition back into the “American Experience”4. My eyes are open wide despite the long， weary three-day cross-country train ride. Community realities witnessed in Philadelphia， Cleveland， Chicago， St. Louis， Kansas City， and Los Angeles are shocking.5 Each community reflects sharp contrasts and glaring6 gaps between the rich and poor. I am feeling like an alien in my own homeland. Long caravans of homeless people wander and shuffle about.7 Many wear unwashed military fatigues8 pushing their life belongings in stolen metal supermarket shopping carts. Sunburned， red-necks and dusty brown and black panhandlers are commonly seen working corners at busy traffic intersections.9 Overweight pedestrians of mixed ethnicities waddle10 on and off public buses. A few instigate unprovoked altercations with other passengers.11 Some folk spout loud monologues addressing the general public.12 These sights stoke13 my alarm and irritation.
Since returning from China， my “Couch Potato” activities finds me watching outdoor adventure TV shows. These programs highlight ideas regarding how to survive， and also methods of acquiring food while facing challenges of nature. Living in the woods， to “kill or be killed” is the undeniable bottom line. Using vicious Booby-Traps to kill： deep pits with sharp bamboo spikes； throwing metal tipped spears； or bludgeoning helpless animals with stones.14 All effective means to necessary ends. Many survivalists feel a particular killing approach is more civil and humane than another. Death inflicted quick or slow is still inevitable. In the end “civility”， no matter how characterized and defined， really does not matter.15 On one televised series， The Alaskans： Life Below Zero， a homesteader16 teaches her children to kill chickens for their dinner. Funneling this feathered bird upside down into a metal tube that narrows only wide enough for the bird’s head to protrude， death comes silently.17 The chicken head is quickly lopped off with the absence of flying feathers and wild squawking.18 The mother then tells her onlooking children， whose ages are around 5 and 6 year olds， “Now， this is the humane way to kill your food. The chicken will not needlessly suffer.”
Living in suburban Vegas is not visually like living in the barely civilized woods. Yet， surprisingly in only a few ways， Vegas represents opposing lifestyles to life in， say， Beijing， China. In the most USA cities， daily lifeending events seem to be common semi-tragic events. This particular callousness19 represents a major part of civilized American culture taken for granted by Americans. Money and Conveniences rule in both countries. In China， a preponderance of Dry Cleaners， Footbaths and KTV establishments in the East， contrasts to the plethora of gas stations and churches on virtually every street corner in the West.20 However， as I watch American television， one unforgettable experience in China comes to mind. Years ago， I had an opportunity to tour Shaoshan， the hometown of the late Chairman Mao. A restaurant owner offered to prepare our small group of VIPs a fresh chicken meal.
In Hunan we watched the Chef hypnotize a plump chicken by simply using one forefinger.21 While the bird was in a trance a knife blade was applied to smoothly slit the bird’s throat.22 The poor feathered creature slowly became lifeless as a wire thin trickle23 of fluid stopped dripping. The shiny red puddle of blood on the dusty ground seeped into the earth.24 The chicken had become weaker and weaker， its death came without alarm or surprise. Many will argue this is a more humane way to present death to any living being. Applicable to humans for a “civilized” philosophy for population control. The resulting chicken feast on that special day in China， however， was voted most delicious by everyone.
This talk about desperation， survival， and death， has much relevance to any society.25 Achieving harmony and advancing civilization through education， and applying the conveniences of technology， now forces me to focus on the essence of personal survival. In the U.S. it is impossible to dismiss the issue of personal security. In fact， as I write this， I have spent the past few hours in process of actually shopping to better “arm” myself. I am not sure whether my ultimate weapon will be a larger deadly blade， or a sexy state of the art firearm. Perhaps becoming a gun-owner. It is really scary here and increasingly impossible to ignore Gun Show TV adverts， billboards， and local firearms conventions.26
Today， I’m at Wal-Mart searching for a whet stone to sharpen the blunt souvenir pocket knife purchased in Alaska last summer.27 In an aisle between hunting knives and guns， a Chinese husband and wife， quietly debate which particular leather holster28 would be best for their gun choice. I can only imagine their motivation and fears.
Later this day I wait in the afternoon at the bus stop. A Black man staggers toward me mumbling about evil people in the world.29 He walks unsteadily， a possible result from a long night of swilling30 drinks at a nearby gaming club. He is dressed in matching gold cloth， pin striped jacket and pants， a black fedora hat.31 This character resembles an old-time gambler from vintage32 movies. I slide my right hand with strained casualness toward the small hunting knife in my jacket.33 I am uneasy at his closeness， seeing his eyelids shutter uncontrollably. His narrow face hosts two bloodshot blinking eyes， pinched between deep facial lines.34 I shiver with discomfort trying to avoid making eye contact. Inadvertently35 I stare at the scar above the upper side of his mouth. This facial disfigurement36 forces the top lip to remain half-closed when he tries to smile. The result is a face with a half sneer37. A long， thick line of drooling spittle hanging from his mouth， swings away from his face when he cocks his head to one side.38 His words mix with slobbering39. Maybe the man is a drug addict prone to unpredictable behaviors. I did not want to seem anti-social， but he is clearly a person from whom I must keep my distance. He addresses me directly.
“Say！ Say， man. Is the hospital in that direction？”
The blinking man has moved closer to where I stand in the shade trying to shield myself from the hot sun. He jabs a boney finger on my forearm.40
“Man， my blood pressure is acting up. I tried to tell them this in the restaurant. But when I entered they grab me with a choke hold41 and drag me out of that place. I jes’ told ‘em I wanted to go to the baff-room （W.C.， or Toilet）， but this brother come running up to me. He a big Black security guard， and he say， ‘No！ Git out！’ Jes’ like that， and he grab my neck， and two White guys in there help him drag me out. I jes’ let myself stay limp42 like a wet rag. Made ‘em work.”43
“Are you telling me that a brother did that to you？”
“Yep. You know how some people of us are...”
Suddenly Blinker shifts topic focus and talks about being raised in the South， Alabama.44 Things his grandmother told him to never forget. The high costs of survival. Suddenly， his monologue is interrupted when a plump， middle aged， white woman， wearing a sports blouse， colorful form fitting pants， and sneakers， runs up to him.45 Both of her arms are stiffly outstretched as she waves a few dollar bills. I ease further away to give them space for privacy. The woman is insisting on giving him folded currency. Initially， the man pretends to refuse her offering.
“Sir... here... take this！ I saw what they did to you in there！ We’ll never go back there to eat. That was so wrong！ Here！ Take this. I want you to have it.”
The man takes the money and shouts his gratitude. The woman quickly retreats to a vehicle crowded with other passengers. The driver honks46 the car horn as they speed away. The man near me is now jubilant47.
“Thank you Jesus！ Thank you！ God is so good！”
After this encounter Blinky talks louder than before as he moves close to where I now stand. I have pretended to ignore the charitable moment that has just transpired48. I am craning49 my head looking to the left hoping to see the bus coming in the far distant line of traffic. Blinking more rapidly than before the man fumbles50 with the bills in his hand. A single dollar bill sticks between his shaking fingers as another folded twenty-dollar bill flutters51 unnoticed near his feet. He jabbers52 on about race and good people. I point to the money close to his shoes， and as he looks down I walk further away from the bus stand.
As I inch further away Blinky stares at me shouting.
“You think you are suffering me. Y’all think that way. But I should be suffering you！ I should be suffering you！”
A few minutes later， standing several yards away， I look in the direction of the bus stand. The blinking man is now seated on the bench beneath the awning， spewing a non-stop monologue aiming words at two other potential bus passengers who stare down at their mobile phones.53 I suppose ignoring him is also an effective line of defense， however， within each of the cars whizzing past54 are isolated drivers， more civilized people， because a greater distances on four wheels between strangers， provide added measures of safety. Citizens packed safely inside automobiles are spared the noises of real living. They can choose to turn on their car radios. Pedestrians forced to have closer human contact wear large obnoxious55 headsets， or color-coordinated earphones， clear “do not disturb” signs. In Vegas， it is not unusual to see pedestrians or bus passenger heads bobbing， their bodies gyrating to music no one else can hear.56 Yet， even this encapsulation57 is no guarantee of personal safety. We all must make ourselves at home “suffering” from manufactured58 or imagined fears. Somehow the expression， “The chickens have come home to roost”59 is loaded with many interpretations.
1. press one’s luck： 得寸進尺，想再度交好运。也作push one’s luck。
2. creep： 悄悄地缓慢行进，爬行；flip on： 打开。
3. close call： 侥幸脱险。
4. American Experience： 此处借用美国公共电视台节目名称《美国印象》来指代后文中的横跨美国之旅。
5. Philadelphia， Cleveland， Chicago， St. Louis， Kansas City， and Los Angeles： 分别是：费城、克利夫兰、芝加哥、圣路易斯、堪萨斯城和洛杉矶。
6. glaring： 显眼的。
7. caravan：（供居住用的）大篷车；shuffle： 步履蹒跚，拖着脚走。
8. military fatigues： 迷彩服。
9. panhandler： 乞丐；traffic intersection： 交叉路口。
10. waddle： 蹒跚而行，摇摇晃晃地走。
11. 一些人会无缘无故和其他乘客发生口角。instigate： 使发生；unprovoked： 无端的，未受挑衅的；altercation： 口角。
12. spout： 滔滔不绝地说；monologue：一个人的长篇大论。
13. stoke： 激起。
14. booby trap： 陷阱；pit： 深坑；spike： 尖刺；tipped spear： 尖矛；bludgeon： 用重物连击。
15. 说到底，无论我们怎样定义和理解“文明”，这个概念真的已经不重要了。
16. homesteader：（按照宅地法获得土地的）定居移民。
17. 把鸡倒过来放入一个漏斗状的金属管中，管道的宽度只能让鸡的头钻出去，死亡会悄悄地来临。funnel：（使）流经狭窄空间，经过漏斗形口子；protrude： 突出，伸出。
18. lop off： 砍掉；squawk： 发出刺耳的尖叫声。
19. callousness： 麻木不仁，冷漠。
20. preponderance： 数量上的优势；plethora： 过多，过量。
21. hypnotize： 对……实施催眠；plump：（供食用的动物）多肉的。
22. trance： 昏睡状态；slit： 切开，划破。
23. trickle： 细流。
24. puddle： 水坑；seep： 渗透。
25. 这种关于绝望、生存和死亡的讨论，与任何社会都息息相关。
26. 这里真的很可怕，并且忽视枪支秀电视广告、广告牌和当地枪支公约是越来越不可能的事情。
27. whet stone： 磨刀石；blunt： 鈍的，不锋利的。
28. holster： 手枪皮套。
29. stagger： 蹒跚；mumble： 含糊地说话。
30. swill： 大口地喝。
31. pin stripped jacket： 细条纹夹克；fedora hat： 软呢帽。
32. vintage：（过去某个时期）典型的。
33. 紧张但还是要装作自然的样子，我的右手慢慢伸向了我衣服里面的猎刀。
34. bloodshot： 充血的；pinch：夹，捏。
35. inadvertently： 不经意间地。
36. disfigurement： 外貌的损毁。
37. sneer： 嘲笑。
38. drool： 流口水；spittle： 唾沫；cock：（使头等）转向一边。
39. slobber： 流口水。
40. jab： 戳；boney： 瘦骨嶙峋的。
41. choke hold： 锁喉。
42. limp： 无力的。
43. 本段中jes’=just， Git out=Get out， 是为模仿对方含混的口音。
44. Blinker： 与后文的Blinky都是指的前面提到的黑人男子；Alabama： 阿拉巴马州，位于美国东南部。
45. blouse：（女士）短上衣；sneakers： 橡胶底帆布鞋。
46. honk： （使汽车喇叭）鸣响。
47. jubilant： 欢呼雀跃的。
48. transpire： 发生。
49. crane： 伸长（脖子）以便看得更清楚。
50. fumble： 摸索。
51. flutter： 飘动。
52. jabber： 急切而含糊不清地说。
53. awning： 遮阳棚；spew： 吐出。
54. whizz past： 呼啸而过。
55. obnoxious： 令人讨厌的。
56. bob： 摆动；gyrate： 使身体旋转。
57. encapsulation： 封闭，包装。
58. manufactured： 人造的。
59. The chickens have come home to roost： 原指“自食恶果，恶有恶报”，在本文中指回家也无法得到安全感的状态。
“詩歌能帮我们制造出更好的搜索引擎。”这是肯硕公司创始人之一丹尼尔·纳德勒（Daniel Nadler）的高见。早在哈佛读书时，这位科技奇才就曾拜在普利策得奖诗人乔丽·格雷厄姆门下……他说，每个清晨和周末都是留给诗歌创作的，不查邮件、不接电话甚至不照镜子，因为就想尝试一种最质朴的写作方式，即：驱除一切干扰，拥抱本我，吐露心声。 Daniel Nadler spends most of his wa
There is a saying that “you need money to make money.” This is true for the vast majority of millionaires and billionaires who were born into rich families and started their own businesses. Education
近幾年来，“尴尬”一词逐渐成为流行热词并衍生出一系列网络词汇，如尬聊、尬舞、尬唱……尴尬之余令人捧腹。《生活大爆炸》中的物理学天才谢耳朵，为人傲娇，行事古怪，常以其超群智商碾压他人，却患有严重的社交障碍——讲话刻薄，听不懂言外之意，也从不考虑别人的感受，人际交往方面令人尴尬。在现实生活中，有社交尴尬症的人也不在少数，然而这一特殊群体虽然另类，却散发着自身独特的光芒。 A few years ag
Despite reports of trashed stores and disorderly crowds， Black Friday shopping excursions in 2016 are actually dwindling.1 Preliminary data from Thanksgiving weekend indicates that both net sales and
In six years of studying economics, not once did I hear the word “ecology”. So if it hadn’t have been for the chance purchase of a video called Gandhi in the final term of my degree, I’d probably have
Her beloved father， an Anglican vicar， died in a car crash when she was 25， after she had been married only a year， and her mother， who had multiple sclerosis，1 died a few months later. For Theresa Ma
There is a very thin line， they say， between the sublime1 and the ridiculous. I never really thought about it， until one day， my education as an Army wife on an Indian military base took me down a pat
It is strange to think of karaoke as an invention. The practice predates its facilitating devices， and the concept transcends its practice： Karaoke is the hobby of being a star； it is an adjuvant for
