Количество просмотров за прошлую неделю

пятница, 23 ноября 2012 г.

Rendering: week 10 – Pollution.








If  you don't think about the future you will not have it.
J.Galsworthy

понедельник, 12 ноября 2012 г.

p. 458 – 544 Summary “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James (The book is over)




Mr. Ralph Touchett and Miss Henrietta Stacpole become friend, as they se each other very often. Henrietta offers him to guide him to England, because his health is getting worse day by day. Also Mr. Caspar Goodwood is eager to do the same with the sick person. The Boston’s friend promises Isabel to keep her cousin.
 
By the way, Caspar believes that Isabel’s request is to escape from him. Before the departure Mr. Goodwood makes a declaration of love for Miss Osmond. Miss Stacpole also wants to marry both Americans. She declares Isabel to go away from her husband – Mr. Gilbert Osmond. At the same time the reporter doesn’t think that Pency will get married. Though Lord Warburton is a good party, but the little girls strings align with her stepmother.

Madame Merle is a supporter of Gilbert. Her relationship with Miss Osmond becomes colder. Gilbert has married Isable because of her money. He is blamed by Madame Merle that he has spoiled her.

The Countess Gemeni visits the Osmodns. She was waiting for the invitation for a long time. Amy (this is the name of the Countess Gemeni) and Isable are going to see ancient sights of Rome. While Pancy and her aunt are claiming to Coliseum Miss Osmond meets Mr. Edward Rossier. He reports that he becomes wealthier, because he has made an auction in Paris and sold there all his things. He receives about 50 000 $, and now he is ready to marry Pency, who suffers from their separation.

But the father doesn’t want that man to get married on his daughter. That’s why Mr. Gilbert Osmond is thinking to send his daughter to the convent. Gilbert supposes that Pency is tired from a society and she needs time to be alone to take thought. The Countess Gemeni believes that her brother is going to do, as he wants to limit Isabel’s attention to Pency and not to allow the daughter marries on Mr. Rossier, who impresses Amy greatly.

Mrs. Touchett sends a telegram which reports that Ralph is dying. He asks Isabel to come to Gardenkort. It’s Henrietta’s praise that they arrive to England and finally Ralph falls ill. Mr. Osmond doesn’t believe the news, from his point of view the cousin is always near a cemetery. The husband doesn’t let her go.

Amy needs to win a battle against Gilbert. She reports that her first daughter-in-law doesn’t have any children: Pancy has appeared immediately after her death. Mr. Osmond makes up a myth that the wife has died during the childbirth, but, truly speaking he has betrayed his first wife. But he hasn’t married on his lover, as she is poor. Her name is Madame Merle.

Isabel decides to go. Before the departure she is going to visit Pancy. The convent is a prison for Miss Archer. There she meets Madame Merle who opens her a secret - Ralph has asked his father to make Isable wealthy. Isable doesn’t want to see her any more. Miss Osmond promises to come back as soon as possible and to take Pancy away.

Miss Stackpole meets Isabel in Paris because Isabel asks her to do it. Henrietta is going to marry Mr. Bantling, whose sister – Lady Penzel – sends an invitation to her asking to come. Henrietta has been waiting for it for five years. Isabel can’t go to Gardencourt immediately. She has to stay at Miss Stacpole apartments.

The day Miss Archer comes to Ralph’s house is memorable. For our heroу seems there are not any changes in the house. Ralph’s mother – Mrs. Touchett becomes older. She wants to send some questions to her: does she feel sorry not to marry Lord Warburton and does she still like Madame Merle. Her answers are negative. By the way Lord Warburton is going to be a husband of Lady Flora, who is a representative of a very famous family in England.

Ralph can talk with her only on her 3rd day of her presence. He is sure that, having given her money, he destroys her life. But she can’t take his words. She loves him very much, as a cousin. He died finally and that evening Mr. Caspar Goodwood tries to make her wife last time. He kisses her and this kiss is a symbol of destroy of all her life, which is made by Gilbert.

Other day, when Caspar wants to see his beloved he comes to Gardencourt, but Isabel isn’t there. Then a Boston’s gentleman goes to Miss Stacpole house but she reports him that Isabel has gone to Italy.

Rendering week 9: "No Need to panic About Global Warming”" - the article from The Wall Street Journal



The article which was published in “The Wall Street Journal” called “No Need to panic About Global Warming”. It reports at length that “there’s no compelling argument for drastic action to ‘decarbonize’ the world’s economy”.

Speaking of the oft-repeated claim that nearly all scientists demand that something dramatic be done to stop global warming, it is necessary to note that it’s not true. Besides they do not agree that drastic actions on global warming are needed.

It’s necessary to emphasize that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ivar Giaever, a supporter of President Obama declared: “We must reduce emissions of greenhouse gases beginning now”. But there is a question: is the evidence of global warming incontrovertible? The most inconvenient fact is the lack of global warming.

There is every reason to believe that large number of scientists share the opinions of Dr. Giaever. It’s very likely that the reason is a collection of stubborn scientific facts. Analyzing the situation, the author gives us an email, called “Climategate”, of climate scientist Kevin Trenberth. There is a general feeling to believe is that “we can’t account for the lack of warming at the moment”.

It’s an open secret that the lack of warming for more that a decade suggests that computer models have greatly exaggerated how much warming additional CO2 can cause. Also the fact is that CO2 is not a pollutant but a colorless and odorless gas and a key component of the biosphere’s life cycle.

The other example of scientist is Dr. Shris de Freits who dared to publish a peer-reviewed article with the politically incorrect (but factually correct) conclusion that the recent warming is not unusual in the context of climate changes over the past thousand years. Finally, as a result of his work, he was removed from his editorial job (he was the editor of the journal Climate Research), but was able to keep his university job.

It’s necessary to point out that the issue become so vexing because there is so much passion about global warming. Anyway a good place to start is the old question “cui bono?” or its modern counterpart “Follow the money”. There is no compelling scientific argument for drastic action to “decarbonize” the world’s economy.

There are a lot of comments on that economist William Nordhaus showed that nearly the highest benefit-to-cost ratio is achieved for a policy that allows 50 more years of economic growth unimpeded by greenhouse gas controls. We can see a so-called proverb in the article: the better we understand climate, the better we can cope with its ever-changing nature. It’s necessary to note that much of the huge private and government investment in climate is badly in need of critical review.

As you see from the first paragraph of my rendering you can understand that there is no author of the article. But I have to say, that it has been signed by 16 scientists:

Claude Allegre, former director of the Institute for the Study of the Earth, University of Paris; J. Scott Armstrong, cofounder of the Journal of Forecasting and the International Journal of Forecasting; Jan Breslow, head of the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics and Metabolism, Rockefeller University; Roger Cohen, fellow, American Physical Society; Edward David, member, National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Sciences; William Happer, professor of physics, Princeton; Michael Kelly, professor of technology, University of Cambridge, U.K.; William Kininmonth, former head of climate research at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology; Richard Lindzen, professor of atmospheric sciences, MIT; James McGrath, professor of chemistry, Virginia Technical University; Rodney Nichols, former president and CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences; Burt Rutan, aerospace engineer, designer of Voyager and SpaceShipOne; Harrison H. Schmitt, Apollo 17 astronaut and former U.S. senator; Nir Shaviv, professor of astrophysics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem; Henk Tennekes, former director, Royal Dutch Meteorological Service; Antonio Zichichi, president of the World Federation of Scientists, Geneva.

According to their thought the author gives his/her personal opinion concerning this problem in the last paragraph – every candidate should support rational measure to protect and improve our environment. Though it makes no sense, there are lots of very expensive programs.

четверг, 8 ноября 2012 г.

p. 382 - 458 Summary: “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James



Mr. Osmond has a talk with his wife – Miss Isabel Osmond (Archer, before weeding). He is sure that Isabel does all her best not to marry Pancy on Lord Warburton. The husband believes that Isabel supports Pancy follower – Mr. Edward Rossier whom Mr. Osmond doesn’t let to communicate with his daughter. Mr. Osmond’s main evidence is that one day Isabel has refused to get married on Lord Warburton and for him it means that she wants to stay the Lord unaffected.

The husband and Madame Merle want Pancy to be a wife of the Lord. In his turn, Lord Warburton starts to visit the Osmonds every Thursday. Pancy is really interested in him, but not more. The Lord is a nice man to discuss anything. He is a globetrotter. Consequently he has lots to tell. Mr. Osmond thinks he is a good party for his daughter.

One day Isabel and Pancy go for a dance. There are a lot of upper-class ladies and gentlemen there. Among them there is Mr. Rossier who can’t dance with Pancy, as Mr. Osmond bans it for her. That’s why the young fellow has to stand in the doorway, looking how Pancy dances with others.

That evening Isabel is eager to discuss with her former follower, Lord Warburton, Pancy’s future with him. Miss Osmond cares, there is no reason to make Lord Warburton and Pancy’s weeding. Isabel is sure that Pancy doesn’t love the Lord and he himself doesn’t love her too. Besides, Mr. Edward Rossier is going to marry Osmond’s daughter, because of that, Lord Warburton has to escape. Before departure he wants to send a letter to Isabel’s husband, in which the Lord has it out with Pancy to get married.

But actually Mr. Osmond doesn’t receive the letter and it makes him nervous. But when he realizes that the Lord is brought out to England on business the father falls into a passion. He blames Isabel and, as a result. Their relation becomes ca\older and colder. By the way, Miss Isabel Osmond’s meetings with her cousin – Mr. Ralph Touchett, who can die in any minute, add fuel to the fire.

It’s a boom that all main heroes start to arrive. Miss Henrietta Stackpole becomes a friend of the Countess Gemini. They are going to visit Osmond’s house. Miss Stackpole comes from America with Mr. Caspar Goodwood. Isabel can only see him from the cab one day, but she doesn’t have a chance to talk with him.

понедельник, 5 ноября 2012 г.

p. 314 – 382 Summary: “The Portrait of a Lady” by Henry James



Mr. Ralph Touchett doesn’t want Isabel to get married. He believes that her fellow isn’t a good party to her. Though Mr. Gilbert Osmond isn’t a famous person and, by the way, his name isn’t renowned in the Italian society, Miss Isabel Archer accepts his proposal to Mrs. Osmond and a stepmother of Pancy, his daughter. On knowing that, Ralph leaves Rome to London to pack a luggage to have winter in hot countries, because of his sickness.

Isabel’s wedding isn’t colorful. There are a few guests on it. Except the bride and the bridegroom, the wedding is attended by the aunt – Mrs. Touchett, who is going to visit American after the ceremony, and her son – Ralph. Madame Merle apologizes that she can’t be there and sends a very nice letter wishing them a good life together. Isabel’s friend – Miss Henrietta Stackpole isn’t so polite as Madame Merle, because the American fried doesn’t share Miss Archer’s opinion concerning her future husband. Henrietta takes the same position as Ralph though usually she tries to make the other opinion that he. So Henrietta doesn’t come and goes to a trip with her old friend Mr.  Bantling to Spain. During it she manages to creat best her works which have approval in the ‘Interviewer’. There is a little guest at the wedding. She attracts Isabel. It’s Pancy. Also her aunt – The Countess Gemini is there.

Pancy grows up. She becomes a beautiful Italian lady. Many people are interested in her. Usually Osmonds make a treatment in the Palazzo Crescentino every Tuesday. There are lots of guests among them is Pancy’s philanderer – Mr. Edward Rossier. He is a young, brave and acutely infamous person. Though it doesn’t disturb him to make money for good living. He is ambitious but he doesn’t think that to marry Pancy will be difficult to do. Mr. Osmond doesn’t suppose Mr. Rossier to be a good man for creation a family. Pancy can’t go against a father’s will and asks to wait a little longer. She advices Edward to ask what to do Madame Merle.

That woman has reliable reputation in Osmond's house. She does all her best to cross Isabel’s and Gilbert’s roads. She becomes a tutor to Edward. He pursues all her steps. But he wants to be with Pancy imidiatly and his out of patience makes big mistakes. Mr. Osmond bans him to visit Palazzo Crescentino except Tuesdays, when others come. The father forbids Edward to speak with the daughter if he doesn’t want to lose her forever. It is a great trial for the young man. He tries to seek comprehension in Mrs. Osmond sight but Isabel can’t make decisions on Gilbert’s behaviour. And also Isabel is astonished because Lord Warburton and Ralph are in Rome, after four years.

Her cousin doesn’t follow his plans. He faces winter in England what makes his health worse. His friend, Lord Warburton, visits Ralph and helps him. He is the bodyguard of Ralph’s health. Ralph is nearly death when they are in a train but the idea of seeing Rome in a day makes him in mind. That is first mews which Lord Warburton tells Isabel. It makes her life happier. Though she loses a child six months before their arrival she isn’t in mournful any more. She is waiting for a moment to see Ralph.

His condition is not good at all. He even has to give up smoking. All days round he is lying on a sofa speaking with his English friend. It is an open secret for both of them that a purpose of their visit is to fight for Isabel’s heart.
 


At the same time, Mrs. Osmond and Madame Merle make a plan to marry Pancy on Lord Warburton. They can have a good party, lose Lord Warburton’s attention to Isabel and at the same time give up Mr. Rossier.